It may be February, but Uncanny X-Men is getting in on some monster mischief this week in “Where Monsters Dwell” part 1. Paired with a pulp western story-within-the-story, Gail Simone and David Marquez cook up an issue packed with character, surprises, and…well everything you want in an X-Men comic!
Uncanny X-Men #23 opens on a pulp comic where two outlaws are about to hang a traitorous outlaw. The page is complete with heavy captioning in each panel, à la the classic Golden Age comics. It’s a surprising start; on the second page, we see it’s a story a father tells his daughter before bed at Haven House. This story-within-a-story effectively splits the issue into two plots: some of the new X-Men members hear the story from another room, and later get literally in on the tale thanks to some quick thinking.
Meanwhile, the second plot kicks into gear with Rogue, Jubilee, Wolverine, and Nightcrawler approaching a cagey Gambit. Something is up with him, and he doesn’t want to admit it. At first, Simone plays it off like an intervention, but soon we learn something supernatural is going on, and it has made him keep secrets. When push comes to shove, this subplot leads to the biggest action of the issue, with the X-Men taking on Gambit.
Mutants fighting mutants!
Credit: Marvel
Gambit lovers will dig this issue, in part because it shows he can go toe to toe with the likes of Wolverine and the rest. It’s also a reminder of his darker side, thanks to captions from Rogue’s perspective. The action builds towards a monster mashup cliffhanger, drawn spectacularly by Marquez. Serious fans of Universal Monsters won’t want to skip this one.
Marquez leans into the classic pulp western comic feel in the story-within-the-story cutaways, with the gutters looking like aged paper by color artist Matthew Wilson. The slightly old-school look to Marquez’s pencils works quite well, especially when Ransom, Jitter, Calico, and Deathdream enter the story. Not only does he give them apt costumes, but Simone gives them slight variations on their names that work well.
If you’re wondering how a pulpy western fits in with the X-Men fighting Gambit and then monsters, you’re probably not alone. Personally, I was a touch confused, if not unclear, why the western pulp comic subplot was happening, but after a while, it’s exciting to see creators take chances and do something different. The creators commit to the bit so strongly that it’s obvious it’ll all make more sense as the story arc progresses.
Uncanny X-Men #23 launches “Where Monsters Dwell” with confidence and style, blending genre experimentation with strong character drama. Gail Simone balances multiple tones while keeping the emotional center locked on Gambit and the team’s trust in him. David Marquez and Matthew Wilson elevate the issue visually, especially through the textured pulp sequences and explosive fight scenes. Some story elements feel intentionally disorienting early on, but the creative risks add intrigue and promise a payoff as the arc unfolds.
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